Early confusion and withdrawal
Tejaswin Shankar, representing India, withdrew from the men’s high jump final at the Commonwealth Games 2026 in Glasgow on Monday. His withdrawal followed an unsuccessful attempt at the opening height of 2.05 metres, after which he appeared to be in discomfort.
The event at Scotstoun Stadium was marked by initial confusion when the official results website listed Tejaswin Shankar as DNS (Did Not Start) for the final. This created an impression that India‘s representation in the final had been reduced from three athletes to two.
However, live telecast pictures clarified the situation, showing Shankar warming up and preparing to compete alongside his teammates, Sarvesh Kushare and J Aadarsh Ram. The DNS status was later identified as an administrative error on the official website.
Once the website error was resolved, attention shifted to Shankar‘s performance. After failing to clear the bar on his first attempt at 2.05 metres, he was observed holding himself in clear discomfort. He then decided to withdraw from the competition, concluding his high jump campaign prematurely.
Shankar’s background and recent form
Tejaswin Shankar, a 27-year-old athlete, arrived in Glasgow as the defending bronze medallist in the high jump. He had previously secured a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, making him the first Indian to achieve a medal in the men’s high jump at the event. Earlier in his career, he also won gold at the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games.
Born on December 21, 1998, in Saket, New Delhi, Shankar initially aspired to be a fast bowler in cricket. A physical education teacher at Sardar Patel Vidyalaya encouraged him to take up athletics to improve his speed and agility for cricket, which marked a significant turning point in his life. He quickly discovered an aptitude for high jumping and committed fully to athletics.
His athletic journey was also shaped by personal challenges, including the loss of his father, Harishankar, in 2014 due to blood cancer. Despite this, he continued his pursuit of athletics with the support of his mother, Lakshmi, progressing steadily through junior levels.
Shankar‘s achievements in high jump earned him a four-year athletics scholarship to Kansas State University in the United States in 2017, where he studied accounting and finance while competing in the NCAA circuit. In 2018, he set the Indian outdoor high jump record at 2.29m and the indoor national record at 2.28m, which remain among the best performances by an Indian athlete in the discipline.
His form leading into the Commonwealth Games 2026 had been notable, particularly in combined events. In February, he won the Asian Indoor Championships heptathlon title with an Indian record of 5,993 points. Three months later, at the Federation Cup in Ranchi, he became the first Indian athlete to surpass the 8,000-point barrier in the decathlon, setting a national record of 8,057 points. These results had established him as one of India‘s most versatile track-and-field athletes.
Impact and ongoing developments
No official statement was immediately released regarding the nature of Shankar‘s problem. Organisers and the Indian contingent have not commented on whether this issue might affect his planned participation in the decathlon, which is scheduled for later in the Games. His early exit from the high jump final is considered a setback, and attention is now focused on his potential recovery for the multi-event competition.
Despite the high jump incident, India‘s medal tally continued to grow on Monday. Gyaneshwari Yadav secured a silver medal in the women’s 53kg weightlifting event, and Bindyarani Devi added a bronze medal in the women’s 58kg category. The Indian contingent awaits further medical updates concerning Tejaswin Shankar following his withdrawal.
Source: outlookindia.com
